FINGERPRINTS expert Ali White has swapped ink for silver after starting her own line of unique jewellery.

The former police investigator has made an interesting career change after almost a decade coming face-to-face with some of the North East’s most hardened criminals.

Ali, 46, was made redundant from North Yorkshire police, where she was responsible for taking fingerprints and interviewing crooks.

Now she is using her knowledge of fingerprints to turn them into special pieces of jewellery.

She even does hand and foot prints, taking her fingerprinting skills to a whole new level.

Ali, from Blyth Northumberland, said: “I had a piece of the jewellery myself with my partner’s fingerprints on a necklace and because of what it means to me and what a nice piece of jewellery it is, it made me want to get into it.

“It is definitely different to what I was doing.

“It is a more fun and enjoyable way of using the skills I used with the police.

“I do hand prints and footprints as well now. It is a slightly different technique. The fingerprint goes straight into the silver but handprints and footprints were different and that is something I had to learn.” Ali said her bespoke charms give people something different, they can keep forever.

“Parents find it a source of comfort as every time they touch their necklace or bracelet they can feel the fingerprint. Of course it’s not just children’s prints I do. I also take adults’ prints as well.

“I have my partner’s print in my necklace and when I was having tough days at work I would touch it and it would relax me. I can travel all over the North East.”

The job has also led to some poignant encounters for Ali.

She added: “There’s something about having a piece of jewellery that your family or friends have touched that makes it special. There is also the very sensitive side of this – as those suffering from bereavement have asked me to take prints.

“One lady rang me after she lost her husband and said she still feels he is with her as his fingerprint is a bracelet which she constantly wears.”